Not the “Chinese flu” label thing again…please

A few recent headlines have suggested something novel and infectious might be brewing among China’s children. But is it really novel? The hard-to-source headlines imply that we should be concerned. Read More ...

More PCR cycles don’t mean magic results

The quote below has been circulated for a while, amplified by those with no PCR understanding. Its focus is to make you believe that too many PCR cycles create false Read More ...

Variation is key to the SARS-CoV-2 ‘waves’

Just a short note to highlight that viruses changing their ‘look’ through selection and expansion of variants in response to our immune system’s pressure on their evolution has been the Read More ...

It takes a while to gather death data

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) published some excellent data on the sad topic of mortality (death) in Australia. In doing that, they nicely defined why it takes patience to Read More ...

people in facial mask standing on sidewalk

Not the “Chinese flu” label thing again…please

Posted onJanuary 6, 2025January 11, 2025Leave a comment

SNAPDATE: MPOX cases in Australia, 14.09.2024

Posted onSeptember 14, 2024October 19, 2024

MPOX, the disease resulting from Monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection, continues to rise rapidly in Australia, as elsewhere in the world. It is unclear if Australia has rolled out more of Read More …

In Australia, COVID-19 deaths may have stopped decreasing

Posted onSeptember 6, 2024September 9, 20241 Comment

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) published excellent data on deaths due to or with COVID-19 in Australia from 2022 to July 2024. Deaths dropped between 2022 and 2023, but Read More …

It takes a while to gather death data

Posted onSeptember 5, 2024September 5, 2024

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) published some excellent data on the sad topic of mortality (death) in Australia. In doing that, they nicely defined why it takes patience to Read More …

Update on Monkeypox virus (MPXV) transmission in Australia

Posted onAugust 6, 2024August 6, 2024

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) causes MPOX. A ‘global outbreak’ of infections and disease became noticeable in 2022. The MPOX outbreak continues, and below is an update on the ongoing MPOX cases Read More …

More PCR cycles don’t mean magic results

Posted onAugust 5, 2024August 7, 2024

The quote below has been circulated for a while, amplified by those with no PCR understanding. Its focus is to make you believe that too many PCR cycles create false Read More …

Stop Hijacking Definitions To Farm Anger And Clicks!

Posted onDecember 29, 2023August 7, 2024

It’s a funny old time to be a scientist. Advances are being made as ever, and new knowledge around airborne virus infection and transmission is accruing like never before. Not Read More …

What is “Immunity Debt”?

Posted onDecember 2, 2023December 29, 20233 Comments

Something called “immunity debt” has been in the news quite a bit lately. Most recently, because of what looks like a multicountry Mycoplasma pneumoniae epidemic, but before then, in the Read More …

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Australia – worth not(ify)ing

Posted onAugust 27, 2023August 27, 2023

Once upon a time, we grew viruses from sick patients’ samples. This took an age, failed often, had low throughput and was not a good diagnostic tool. Then we developed Read More …

Vote Yes in the 2023 voice to Parliament referendum.

I’m voting YES to the Voice to Parliament.

Posted onAugust 8, 2023August 9, 20232 Comments

Because the First Nations people of Australia deserve to have the privileges the rest of us take for granted and, at the very least, be the source of truth on Read More …

Excess deaths align with COVID-19

Posted onMay 7, 2023May 7, 20232 Comments

There are minimisers who spread misinformation, like butter on hot toast. And yes, it can sink in and spread further. One of these piles of melted fat ridiculously claims that Read More …

Variation is key to the SARS-CoV-2 ‘waves’

Posted onMay 7, 2023May 7, 2023

The 2023 southern hemisphere influenza vaccine

Posted onApril 29, 2023July 13, 2023

Each year we get a new vaccine for each hemisphere. The design gets settled six months out, and sometimes a lot can change in that time. So how does the Read More …

young annoyed female freelancer using laptop at home

‘Endemic’ covers a lot of biology, but we’re probably not there yet for COVID-19

Posted onJanuary 2, 2023January 2, 2023

Right up front, I’m going to repeat myself by saying that I think COVID-19 will become a disease that has endemic as well as epidemic states at some point in Read More …

Whatever happened to communication?

Posted onJuly 24, 2022July 25, 20222 Comments

I’m not an expert in many things. But I’m enough of a scientist to conclude with confidence that what’s happening now with COVID-19 in Australia and in many other countries Read More …

Virology Down Under

Facts, data, info, expert opinion and a reasonable, occasionally grumpy, voice on viruses: what they are, how they tick and the illnesses they may cause.

Latest posts...

Not the “Chinese flu” label thing again…please

More PCR cycles don’t mean magic results

Variation is key to the SARS-CoV-2 ‘waves’

It takes a while to gather death data

Not the “Chinese flu” label thing again…please

SNAPDATE: MPOX cases in Australia, 14.09.2024

In Australia, COVID-19 deaths may have stopped decreasing

It takes a while to gather death data

Update on Monkeypox virus (MPXV) transmission in Australia

More PCR cycles don’t mean magic results

Stop Hijacking Definitions To Farm Anger And Clicks!

What is “Immunity Debt”?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Australia – worth not(ify)ing

I’m voting YES to the Voice to Parliament.

Excess deaths align with COVID-19

Variation is key to the SARS-CoV-2 ‘waves’

The 2023 southern hemisphere influenza vaccine

‘Endemic’ covers a lot of biology, but we’re probably not there yet for COVID-19

Whatever happened to communication?